Container closure



Jan. 12, 1965 F. w. KEUTHAN CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Jan. 25, 1963 Fig. 1.

MK 17m .m WW

Fig. 2.

United States Patent 3,165,223 CUNTAINER CLUSURE Frederick W. Keuthan, Indianapolis, Ind, assignor to The Sargent Paint Mfg. Company, Indianapolis, End, a corporation of Indiana Filed Jan. 25, 1963, Bar. No. 253,805 1 Claim. (Cl. 226-27) This invention relates generally to container closures and more particularly to a type of closure well suited to employment as a protective overcap for a pressurized dispensing container.

In recent years, the use of small pressurized containers for dispensing various types of materials has become Widespread. These containers are typified by a generally cylindrical can having a circular lip adjacent the upper end thereof. A dispensing nozzle is disposed in the top of the can whereupon the contents can be released by pressing the nozzle. In order to avoid inadvertent actuation of the nozzle, a protective overcap is usually employed. Frequently the overcap is secured to the lip of the can.

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tion with the lip 12 and thereby prevent removal of the cap from the container.

The wall 17 is provided with a generally rectilinear plug 23 which is formed in the wall as an integral portion thereof. The plug is defined by straight line cuts or serrations such as at locations designated by the reference numerals 24 through 33 in the drawing. It is seen, therefore, that the only means attaching or retaining the plug 23 as an integral portion of the wall are the four attachments 34-38 on the drawing. These are,

however, sufficient to maintain the cylindrical shape of Inasmuch as the contents of the can are so readily discharged, it is desirable to provide means for prevention of tampering with the container prior to its purchase by the ultimate consumer. As an alternative to providing completely tamperproof containers, means are occasionally employed which will make it quite evident to prospective purchasers when a container has been tampered with.

Various means have been devised to provide protective overcaps which are either tamperproof or which give a clear indication of any attempt to tamper therewith. The means heretofore devised for these purposes have had several disadvantages. Among these disadvantages are cost, limited utility, and general inadequacy for the intended result.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved container closure.

A further object is to provide a container closure which is essentially tamperproof and which provides an obvious indication of any tampering.

A further object is to provide a closure applicable to a Wide variety of sizes and shapes of containers. A further object is to provide a closure achieving the above objectsand which can be produced at low cost.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim.

a the present invention, the closure being mounted on a container, with the container being shown fragmentarily. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Referring to the drawings in detail, container 11 is provided with a circular lip 12 anda dispensing nozzle 13 in the container top 14. It should be understood that the contents of the container can be discharged through the nozzle 13 by pressing it. In order to avoid accidental operation thereof an overcap 16 is provided. The illustrated embodiment of the overcap 'of the present invention has a first cylindrical wall 17 with a top extending across the upper margins of the wall, thereby forming an inverted cup. A wall 19 extends radially outwardly from the lower margin of the wall 17 and a flange 21 extends downwardly from the outer margin of 7 the cap and securely maintain engagement of the lip 12 by the flange 21 of the cap.

The plug 23 is provided with an elongate aperture 39 therein. This aperture is therefore of a size and shape suitable to accommodate entry of a screw driver blade or other tool. The plug 23 can therefore be easily removed by simple application of leverage upon the tool sufiicient to break the attaching portions 34-38. The cap, which is normally cold formed metal, will thereupon expand slightly inasmuch as the wall 19 and flange 21 are not continuous, there being a gap 41 adjacent the lower margin 42 of the plug. The slight expansion of the cap is sufficient to permit removal of the cap from the lip 12. While removal can be accomplished readily, there is suflicient inward flare to the portion 22 of the cap to cause the cap to snap back into place on the lip 12 when it is reinstalled after use. Thus the cap cannot become disconnected unintentionally from the container.

The degree of inward flaring of the cap adjacent the lower margin of the cap at'the portion 22, can be controlled at the discretion of the manufacturer. Also the degree to which the plug 23 is offset from the outer surface of the wall 17 (dimension X in FIG. 4) can be established at any desired value. A dimension of of an inch has been found to be satisfactory.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as'other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claim.

The invention claimed is:

A container closure comprising a'first generally cylindrical wall with a top across the upper margin of said wall, a circular wall extending outwardly from said first wall adjacent the lower margin thereof, and a generally cylindrical flange extending downwardly from said circular wall and thereby adapted to substantially encircle and engage an annular lip of a container, said first wall having thereina plug portion integral therewith, said plug portion being partially bordered by rectilinear slits in said first wall and said plug portion having a tool receiving aperture therein to facilitate removal of said plug from saidfirst wall to allow expansion of said flange for facilitating disengagement thereof from the said annular lip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,028,992 4/62 Bucher et a1. 220-27 3,037,672 6/62 Gach 222-182 3,049,263 8/62 Edelstone 220- 3,088,635 5/63 Steinkamp 222-182 3,097,758 7/63 Gershen et a1. 220-27 3,102,658 9/63 Rosen 220-27 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

' Examiners.

i atented Jan. 12, 1965. 

